Just a Game

Chapters

Beginnings
Overture
The Wake of Your Obsession
This Life That You Hold
Relapse
Reckoning
Repercussions
Silence
The Journal
Stop

Beginnings

Twilight Sparkle finds herself in an unfamiliar location, her wings shackled to the wall. She is extremely disoriented, and she tries to identify her surroundings. She is in a musky, dim lit room, with about the arm length of three humans (Just for reference, ponies don’t actually know about humans). As she struggled with her binds, there was a faint noise near the corner of the room. A box of light lit up, with the following static. Twilight was confused by this, but she recognized it from some of the Technomancers she had met while in college (Yes, it is a type of magic).
As she started to continue on her struggle, something appeared in the box. It was the numbers 6, 3, and 7.

“This makes no sense…” Twilight was starting to panic by then.

Right then, the box had flashed, and a particularly creepy face had appeared. It looked like a sort of doll. As if that wasn’t freaky enough, it started to talk.

“Hello, my dear Twilight.” The doll said.

“What do you want from me?” Twilight asked.

“There is nothing that I want, but something that I need.” The doll replied.

“Release me this instance! I want to go home!” Twilight demanded.

“Home? Is that what you really want? You don’t want the comfort of your friends, or maybe the love of a family member? I hope that your next few days might change that.” The doll was starting to become increasingly menacing.

“Please, just let me go. I don’t even know you!”

“Oh, I am pretty sure you do, princess. You know me very well. Let us not dwell on this. We have much to do.”

Twilight’s eyes darted every which way for some kind of escape. She found nothing.

“You're probably wondering where you are. I'll tell you where you might be. You might be in the room you die in.” The doll said with its scratchy, low pitched voice.

The doll’s eyes sunk into Twilight’s brain like a brick. She was sure she could not unsee that face once she escaped. IF she escaped.

She could hear a sound. Something similar to running water from a stream.

“You may not know it, but there are tubes on each side of your room. These tubes will release a deadly nerve toxin. One that will instantly end your life with one touch.” The doll explained.

“Your wings are restrained with steel that I have found around this place. These are your only constraints. If you wish to live, you must first find the will to endure this mass amount of pain. We will see if your fear will take over.”

With that, the light disappeared, and Twilight was left alone to dwell on what the doll had just said. Suddenly, a clock appeared on the wall next to her.

One minute.

She hurriedly tried to find a way out of the constraints, but it all came down to one dreadful option.

With a swift movement, she slowly dislocated her wings, one by one, each time crying out in pain. Away from the shackles, she ran to the door.

Thirty Seconds.

It was locked with some sort of combination. She tried desperately to remember what the code was.

“Come on, you are better than this!” She cursed at herself.

Just then, she remembered. The box had shown her the numbers, but what were they? She tried a few codes.

365? No, that didn't work.

954? Not that one either.

“Dammit!” Twilight looked at the timer. Only ten seconds left.

She then tried one more code, hopefully being the right one.

The door swung open. And she scrambled through the doorway. The timer stopped at four seconds.

You couldn't have made it any earlier, could you? Twilight thought to herself.

Another box lit up, with the doll’s remorseless face up close, staring into her own.

“I see you have completed your first test. I applaud you. Most of my specimens couldn't complete their first test. But I have much in store for you, my little pony. I would like to play a game. I hope you are ready.”

The box then shut off, and Twilight took her extra time to examine it. The box had the word “Television” on the side, so she guessed that was what they were called. Twilight had to find a way out, and she had to find her friends.

She entered the room nearest to her, the door agape, nearly falling off its hinges. She found it was a bathroom, and she tried to drink from the water, only to find it had been long contaminated by the infestation of insects and poor plumbing. She immediately spit out the water in disgust.

“I can already tell I am going to have a fun time here.” Twilight said to herself.

It was then that she noticed something in the mirror. On the back wall, there were letters written in dark red paint. Or at least she thought it was paint. It had said “Look for a key. This might give you an IDEA.”

The note made no sense at all. But a thought in the back of her mind gave her chills. She saw some X-Rays of her skull on the counter, and she moved over to examine them. Her heart immediately sank, as she soon realized what had to be done. In the X-Ray photographs, She saw that a key had been implanted in her eye socket.

“Oh please no…” Twilight almost couldn't cope with what she had to do next.

Next to the X-Rays on the floor were some audio tapes. She played the first one.

“I see you have completed my first game. But do you have the will to complete this next task of mine? I have inserted the key to your survival in your eye socket. There is a knife in the toilet. But be wary, for there are other things you must look out for.” The doll had explained in the tape.

She played the next one, but was greeted by a laugh, one that could only come from a clown.

She walked over to the toilet, and tried to see what kind of things the doll could have kept inside there. She couldn't see a thing.

“I guess there is only one way to do this.” Twilight told herself.

It took all of her strength to finally reach into the toilet, but once she did, pain immediately shot up her forearm. The doll had hid needles inside the toilet, and a lot of them. It took a whole four seconds of unbearable pain, but she finally found the scalpel. The surgical item was drenched in stinking water and other filth left from the unfiltered septic pit. There was only one thing left to do.

As she removed the remaining bacteria filled syringes from her forearm, Twilight moved back to the counter. She stared into the mirror, and looked back to the X-Rays. She did this for about three minutes, memorizing the location of the key, and where she needed to cut to prevent permanent damage.

“You can do this, Twilight. Just get it over with, and you can find you friends.” She told herself.

With all of her courage, she started cutting just underneath her left eyelid. She noticed a line of stitches, perhaps left from her earlier surgery. Twilight stopped cutting, and was already tearful. She continued this pattern for a long while, stopping from the sheer pain, and then having to continue a few seconds later. Twilight was unsure of how long she could endure this nightmare.

With a perfect curve under her eye, all Twilight had to do was get the key. But it wasn’t that easy. As you know, ponies do not have fingers, or even hands for that matter. So how do you think she could get the key out of there? Painfully enough, she used her magic to enlarge the wound, and forcefully remove the key from behind her eye. You can imagine how that must’ve felt. With one last pull, she had the key. Twilight was lying in a pool of sweat and blood near the door.

She was slightly relieved, but more so fearful of what she had to accomplish next. When she finally mustered the strength to move on, she found that the key had to be used to move on to the next room.

As she entered the room, she noticed four sheets of metal, each one besides on another in a tight circle, with ponies lying on each of them. The next thing she noticed was that there were bombs planted around the room, each one with a blinking red light. Another television in the room had turned on, greeting Twilight with that god forsaken doll.

“Hello Twilight. I see you had enough strength to remove the key. I hope that wasn't too painful. We have much to do.” The doll said.

“Will you kindly tell me as to who you are, and why have you trapped me here?” Twilight demanded.

“You can refer to me as Jigsaw, for I am the only face you will see for a while. Unless, of course, you make the right decisions. You are here because I want you here. You are here, because of the pain you have caused to those around you. The indirect threats to their way of life, their job, their families. You don’t know how many you have hurt, do you?”

“I have no idea what you are talking about! What are you planning to do with me?” Twilight was getting impatient.

“I want you to play a game. I want you to realize the suffering that others feel. I want you to know what it is like to fight for your life every second; not knowing what is around the corner. Do you know how it is for others to go through the intense pain of dehydration and hunger, while you sit around on your ass all day, nourished by clean, crystal water and warm, delicious food? Comforted by your friends. Aided by a mentor. Protected by those around you?”

Twilight had an idea of the reasoning for her pain, but she had to know more.

“What are the rules to this game?” Twilight asked.

“The rules of our game have been very clear. You need to abide by those rules. I think you already know what is at stake here.” Jigsaw replied.

“There are four bodies, ready to cut open. Only one contains the mean to continue. But the knife may yet betray you. Choose wisely.” With that, the Television shut off.

Twilight was left to decide the fate of these unlucky ponies. She picked up the knife, and proceeded to the first body. With a look of uncertainty, she cut into the gray coat of the pony, releasing a large stream of blood. She hesitated, but Twilight reached into the body, desperately trying to find the key. Desperately hoping this pony’s death wasn't in vein.

There was no key.

With a gulp of dread, she moved onto the second body, hoping for a different outcome. As she moved from one body to the next, Twilight became increasingly unable to control her emotions. She wept as she found that each body she cut open was the wrong one. She finally moved onto the last body, and was sure this one had the key. As Twilight removed the key from the unfortunate soul, the television turned on again.

“How does it feel, knowing you have ended four lives at your own hoof? Now tell me, did you know those ponies were alive? They were just unconscious. Don’t worry, they didn't feel a thing. I think.”

With that, Twilight completely broke down. She collapsed to the floor, sobbing for everything that’s happened.

“I will be glad to see your next decision. I wonder if your friends will feel the same. Do you think that chatterbox of yours has shut up by now? Let us hope your fear does not cloud your judgment, and your ability to complete the task at hand. Good luck.”

When the Television had shut off, Twilight knew what was happening.

Her friends were trapped here too, and she had to go find them.

Author's Note

I am thinking about continuing this series, depending on what kind of feedback I receive. Feel free to say whatever you like about the story. I will be needing the feedback.

Overture

The dark hallways of this place give it an odd atmosphere, and Twilight does not like it one bit. As she makes her way down to find the next chamber, she keeps hearing the screams of other ponies that are being tested. It sends chills down her spine. By the time she reaches the next door, Twilight starts wondering if she should go on any further. She is a wreck, two dislocated wings, blood, sweat and tears all over her body. Her eye is bound to get infected, and it is already hard enough to see through it.

Twilight had noticed once in a while she would get these tremors throughout her body, and she would not stop shaking. She couldn't even bear to think what her friends were going through. She had to act quickly, or else they could die a terrible death.

“Come on Twilight. Get yourself together. You have to find your friends. They could be in all sorts of danger by now.” Twilight ordered herself to move on.

She opened the door, only to be greeted by a small room with a mirror and a door. As she walked into the room, the door behind her locked shut, and a Television turned on.

“Welcome. By now you probably know I have captured your friends. You must realize I don’t take kindly to stalling, so let us begin my next game.”

With that, the wall of glass had become a two way mirror, allowing Twilight to see the next room. But she immediately wished she couldn't.

In the other room, Pinkie Pie was strapped into a chair, With some sort of contraption around her head.

“What are you doing to her!?” Twilight demanded.

“Do not fret. She is not in pain. I want you to watch what happens next. I want you to know what it feels like to be in a situation with no hope, no chance of survival, with sompony to help you, so close, yet they choose not to. I want you to stand there, and watch helplessly as your friend, on the verge of death, struggles for her life. Just as you did to others.”

With that, the TV shut off, and all Twilight could do was watch her friend die.

__________________________________________________________________

Pinkie Pie woke from her slumber, and immediately tried to fight her constraints. She had no idea where she was, or what was happening to her, but she had to get out. Pinkie saw a strange light in the corner of the room, and a face appeared. It looked like a ventriloquist dummy she had seen in a few shops back in PonyVille.

“Hello Pinkie Pie. You don’t know me, but I know you. I would like to play a game. Here is what happens if you lose.”

Jigsaw shows her a mannequin with the same contraption rigged to its head.

As the doll is talking, all Pinkie can do is whimper with fear. Her eyes are wide, and start darting everywhere in the room, looking for some sort of escape.

“The device you’re wearing is hooked into your upper and lower jaws. When the timer in the back goes off, your mouth will be permanently ripped open. Think of it like a, reverse bear trap. Here, I’ll show you.”

The doll turns to the mannequin, and Pinkie could hear the light ticking of the timer. When she heard a click, the entire head of the mannequin exploded from the force of the device. She gasped from the terrifying sight, and immediately started to struggle against the leather straps holding her to the chair.

“There is only one key to open the device. It is in the stomach of your dead cellmate. Look around Pinkie. Know that I’m not lying. You better hurry up. Live or die. Make your choice.”

The screen turned to static, and Pinkie Pie was left to struggle against the straps. No matter how hard she tried, she could not escape. With one strong pull, one of the straps had come undone, and she now tried to release her other arm. When she got herself out of her restraints and got up from the chair, a pin had been pulled from a string connected to the trap.

The clock had started ticking.

With this realization, Pinkie tried her hardest to remove the trap from her face. With each attempt, all that was released was her sense of hope. She fell to the floor, and started sobbing. It was then, that she noticed the body of a long deceased pony near the corner of the room. She walked over to it, each second she swore she could hear the timer tick faster.

Her heart rate was dangerously high, and she took quick, sharp breaths. As she lay down next to the body, she began to weep even more from the sight of a question mark painted on its belly. There was a knife lying beside Pinkie, and she was fearful of what she had to do. She picked up the knife, her hooves shaking from the intensity of her fear. She couldn't help but choke on her own breath as she lifted the knife.

Right as she was about to cut open the stallion’s stomach, Pinkie found that he was still alive, and he looked towards her with fearful eyes. This only made the job worse. She began to repeatedly stab his stomach; each jab released a cry of fear from Pinkie, and a steady stream of blood from the wound and the stallion’s mouth. Pinkie only stopped the stabbing when she was sure the he was dead.

She reached into his belly, and quickly searched for the key. She pulled out intestines and many organs, staining her hooves with blood. She finally pulled out the stomach, and cut it open. Inside Pinkie found the key and searched frantically for the lock to the device. When she found it, she struggled to insert the key. When she unlocked the device, she quickly pulled it off her head, and threw at the corner. When it landed, it released a sudden clang, and the device snapped open.

It was over. She had survived the test.

Pinkie lay next to the body, weeping for the pony she had just cut open, and for the terror she had felt. A door adjacent to her suddenly opened, and Twilight ran over to her. They embraced in a strong hug, Pinkie still bawling her eyes out.

“Agh!” Twilight gasped in pain.

“S-sorry Twilight!” Pinkie noticed her wings were in an awkward position, one bent back at an impossible angle.

“Are you okay?” Twilight asked.

“I..I think so.” Pinkie Pie answered with a shudder.

The Television had turned on.

“Congratulations. You are still alive. Most ponies are so ungrateful to be alive. But not you, not anymore.”

“How did you make this? Why couldn't I use my magic?” Twilight demanded.

“You might be surprised as to the many things I can do. I have the ability to adapt. Something that you will soon learn yourself. Everything you see here, the traps, the Televisions, the doors, I invented them. I rebuilt the doors to my fitting with my time here. I had a lot of time to think. Do you remember who I am now? Do you remember this Asylum?

Twilight had a long time to think, but she still could not figure out who this psychopath was.

“It seems not. You will soon learn who I am. What you did to me. And you will learn to fear me with the little strength you can muster from your feeble, defenseless bodies.”

Twilight was getting angry at the stupid doll.

“Why would you capture US? What pain could a harmless, party pony do to you?”

Jigsaw started to chuckle.

“It is nothing that she had done. It is something that I need her for. We will not dwell on that. As for your magic, I have used mine to implant certain…Way points, Around the Asylum. Think of them as barriers. I put one in Each room according to my subject’s position. I want to keep the game fair, so I leave specific rooms for you.” The doll explained.

“Why have you not killed me yet? Why keep me going when I mean almost nothing to you?” Twilight asked.

Even though Jigsaw had no visible facial expressions, you could still tell he was smiling.

“I want you to look back. Why do you think I made you cut out your eye? You could have easily died, correct?”

Twilight was thinking, and she realized why he had kept her alive.

“But I had faith in you. I knew that you would pull through. That is why I trust you to complete my next set of challenges. You are special, Princess. You are a vital piece of my puzzle. If you choose to oblige to my commands, I will hunt down everyone you know and love and I will bring them here. Is that what you want?”

Twilight knew she had to move on. She knew she had to find the rest of her friends.

“Think of it this way, Pinkie. Death is like a surprise party. Unless of course, you are already dead inside.”

Pinkie tried to ignore the puppet, but his words were chillingly true.

“Until a pony is faced with death, it's impossible to tell whether they have what it takes to survive. We will see if your other friends are as determined to live as you, Twilight. Until then, you must traverse through the Asylum. But I must warn you, others will be looking for you Twilight. They want something important, and you have it. Be wary.”

The screen faded to black, and the two hesitantly moved on to find their friends.

The Wake of Your Obsession

As they made their way through a maze of dark hallways and cramped spaces, the two ponies had time to talk about their unfortunate position.

“Twilight, where are we?” Pinkie looked towards her with a tired face.

“I….I’ve been meaning to tell you something. Before I was assigned to PonyVille to learn about the wonders of friendship, I was ordered to work at an Asylum for the mentally ill. I had a…Particular duty.”

Twilight didn’t really know why she hadn’t told this information to her friends before.

“I was working as a counselor for specific patients. They all were different in their own ways. Some with suicidal tendencies, some were just deranged. A few that I was assigned to actually had conversations with me. I would visit them daily, and help with most of their problems.”

“But why did you quit? It sounds like you were fine there.” Pinkie was curious as to why she had been discharged from her former job.

“One day, when I was in the cafeteria with one of my patients, a fight broke out. Security guards rushed over to see what they were fighting about. When they arrived, they found that a spoon had been used to dig out one of the stallion’s eyes. There was a lot of blood. By the time the guards got the pony to the medical bay, the other had pulled out a knife. Apparently a visitor hid it under his bed. They had to evacuate the staff and the patients.” Twilight explained.

Twilight stopped walking. She noticed a tape in the room besides them.

“Stay here; I will go check it out.”

Twilight moved over the tape, and played it. Jigsaw’s voice could be heard echoing off the walls.

“You think it's the living that will have the ultimate judgment over you, because the dead will have no claim over your soul. You may be mistaken.”

That is all he had to say.

Twilight walked back over to Pinkie, who was already shaking from severe anxiety.

“We have to go. We shouldn’t be wasting time like this. Our friends need us.”

Twilight and Pinkie moved on to the next room, and they both prayed for the safety of their friends.

The room was larger than the others she had seen, but it was incredibly dark. The only light was coming from a TV above two separate doors. Nail bombs hang from the ceiling, seeming as though they could go off at the drop of a nail. Jigsaw had greeted them once more on the Television.

“Before you are two doors. Each will test your faith. Will you continue blindly, or will you face a greater challenge with your sight intact? Make your choice quickly. When the timer reaches zero, the bombs located all around you will detonate.”

The screen cut to black, and the two ponies had to make a choice. The timer had started, and they had three minutes to get to the other side.

“What should we do? I don’t trust this place well enough to walk around in the dark. What if there are monsters in there?”

Pinkie was incredibly fearful, and it all came down to Twilight’s choice.

“We should take the blinded path.” Twilight decided.

“What!? But we won’t be able to see!” Pinkie did not want to walk blindly through a maze that could kill her.

“Just trust me Pinkie. I know what I am doing.”

Pinkie was hesitant about Twilight’s odd choice, but she decided to trust her.

As they opened the door, and walked into the darkness, Twilight decided to test her magic in this maze. Surprisingly, her horn illuminated, releasing a purple orb of light to assist with the maze. As she lit the tight corners and dark hallways in front of her, she noticed flammable red barrels. Jigsaw’s voice came in over a speaker.

“Caution, Princess. These barrels aren’t for show, and WILL explode.”

Twilight moved through the dark hallways with extreme caution, being careful not to be too close to the barrels around her. She found that she could only see a couple feet in front of her, which made it increasingly hard to traverse through the maze. Twilight had a thought, and immediately ceased the glowing of the orb. The two ponies were surrounded in complete darkness.

“What are you doing Twilight?! We need that light!” Pinkie was extremely fearful for her life.

“Just…Trust me…” Twilight assured her with determination in her voice.

They moved through the pitch black hallways, and Pinkie was surprised that Twilight knew where she was going.

When they finally reached the door, they scrambled through with no hesitation, and the timer stopped.

Pinkie was breathing heavily, her eyes wide. Twilight noticed a mug full of water. She used her magic to levitate the mug over to Pinkie.

“Here, Drink this.”

Pinkie was hesitant.

“Don’t you need it?” Pinkie asked.

“I think you need it more than I do. Take your time.”

Pinkie took the mug, and gulped down all the liquid in one go. Twilight could tell she was thirsty. Jigsaw greeted them once again.

“I see you two are alive. Twilight, I am impressed by your behavior. You could have easily made it through the maze with a light, giving you your sense of direction. But you chose against this, and traversed blindly to the other side with ease. I think you will do well in this game.”

It was silent, and the two ponies knew they had to move on to the next test. They arrived at what seemed like the next test. They were standing in another observation closet, with another door parallel to where they just came in. The Television had turned on, and Jigsaw was about to reveal his next game.

“Hello. You have probably had your share of muggings and fights at your so called home, correct? Remember how you used to witness such events? The bloodshed, the angry shouts of other ponies pleading sompony from the crowd to step in. But no one did. You just stood there and watched it all happen. You thought of yourselves as just bystanders. You told yourselves there was nothing you could have possibly done to stop it from all happening. But you could have stopped it. Everypony has the power to change things. Some might not know it, but inside, you are powerful enough to change the world to your liking. You just choose not to.”

The room in front of them lit up, and they found a mare in confusion, running all around the room, trying to figure out how she could escape.

“Do you remember this mare, Pinkie? Do you remember what has brought you here?”

Pinkie tried her hardest to look away, but she knew she couldn’t avoid this conversation forever.

“I want to show you what happens when you make wrong choices in life. I want to show you the wake of your obsession.”

The TV shut off, and they were left to watch the unfortunate mare struggle with her own game.

______________________________________________________________

“Where am I? Somebody help me!!” The mare was sure nopony could hear her, but she still insisted on crying out for help.

She found an audio tape, and she had no other choice than to play it.

“Hello, CareTaker, I want to play a game. It's similar to the game you play as a drug dealer, the game of giving hope to the desperate. I think we can agree that your situation is desperate, so I'm going to offer you hope. By entering this room, you have started a timer on the door in front of you. When the timer runs out the door will be locked forever, locking away your chance of escape with it. If you want to find the key, you will have to crawl through the same squalor that your customers have. I'll give you one hint where to find it.”

CareTaker moves a bed frame besides her, revealing a pit of hypodermic syringes beneath.

“It will be like finding a needle in a haystack.” The audio tape ended.

CareTaker was in shock. She started to hyperventilate, and she paced around the room, hoping there would be another way.

There wasn’t.

She turned to the timer. She only had two minutes.

CareTaker broke down in front of the pit, screaming for sompony to help her. She was wasting valuable time.

She finally built up the courage to attempt to find he key. She looked down into the pit. It was a long drop. CareTaker dropped down into the pit, but was greeted by an intense flash of pain. She cried out in agony. When she tried to stand up, she found several syringes sticking out of her forearms. She tried to remove them, but it only proved useless, seeing as she would have to dig through the needles in order to find the key.

It took CareTaker a whole minute of searching through infected syringes, and she could feel her whole body tensing up. She finally found the key, but there was no way up. She felt an intense burning all over her shaking body, and she was going into shock. Her face began to seem pale, and she had cold sweats all over her body. She began to slow down; her breathing became increasingly weak. She eventually doubled over and wouldn’t stop shaking. The hypodermic syringes were taking their toll.

The timer reached zero, and the door was locked shut forever.

There was nothing the mare could do now.

______________________________________________________________

“Do you now know what happens when you do not act? Has my message sunk in yet? It hurts ponies, when you just watch. They need your help, desperately, yet you choose to ignore the cries for help, the pleading. This is what you have caused for others, Princess. Have you noticed yet that no matter how long you try to ignore it, no matter what you do, it will still haunt you? Their screams of pain will still echo in the back of your mind for as long as you live. And yet, you still cannot do anything to help them.”

The room went silent. All that Twilight could do was cry. Cry for everything that has happened, and everything she has done to hurt others.

This Life That You Hold

Half Track awoke with a pain in his side. His eyes slowly lifted, revealing a dark room. The only light source was coming from a spotlight directly above him. He tried to move, but was pinned down by metal clamps around his hooves. Half Track was being held upright, restraints on all of his legs, raw from hours of friction. There was a wound in his side, with a puddle of blood beside him. He was wearing a face mask, with some sort of device monitoring his breathing. Half Track struggled with the restraints for a while, his head darting in all directions, trying to get a grasp of his location. He finally gave up, and accepted defeat.

He had heard a voice, seemingly coming from all sides. The darkness seemed to amplify the sound, causing the voice to become increasingly menacing. All Half Track could do was create a muffled cry of distress, and watch all around the room to try and figure out where the voice was coming from.

“Hello Half Track.” The voice had said.

“Oh fuck, where am I!”

Half Track was scared for his life, but tried his best to keep a calm demeanor.

It wasn’t working.

“You have probably been wondering when we would see each other again. Today is that day.”

“Fuck you!” Half Track screamed at the voice.

“For years your probability formula has decided the fate of others. The healthy have benefited while the potentially sick, have been unjustly rejected. However this formula does not take into account the pony will to live. When faced with death, who should live versus who will live are two entirely separate things. Today, your policy will be put to the test.”

Half Track released muffled screams of fear, and he struggled more against his restraints.

“There are four straps around your limbs, and you have four tests you must complete. For if you don’t, the straps on your legs will detonate. Look closely.”

A light in the middle of the room had turned on, revealing a mannequin with the same straps connected to its frontal hooves. With a violent explosion, its legs completely disappeared in a cloud of dust. Half Track’s eyes were wide with fear. He started to scream, wishing desperately that sompony could hear him.

“You have sixty minutes to complete your tests and avoid this fate, starting now.”

A timer on the wall to the right of him appeared, and the clock had started.

“You are not alone in this game. Just as you have taken loved ones away from their families, if you don’t reach the end before the timer hits zero, you will never see your family again.”

_______________________________________________________________________

Faith had been lying on the cold, hard floor for about thirty minutes. Her son had tried desperately to wake her. Pleading her to wake from her unconscious state.

“Mom! Mom wake up! Mom please…”

Faith had awaken, and got up from her resting place. She had a splitting headache.

“Where are we?” Faith had asked her son.

He had looked around, but only came with the answer Faith had expected.

“I don’t know…”

He started sobbing, shaking his head as he stared in front of him.

“What is this?” Faith had asked.

“I don’t know. Look.”

Her son had pointed over to a Television in the corner of the room. It had shown her husband strapped to an odd contraption.

“Oh my god…”

______________________________________________________________________

“Here is your first test. Your health and hereditary background put you in the highest category of success. However, the same could not be said for your adversary.”

Another light had appeared, revealing his former co-worker and best friend, Calvin singer. They both stared at each other in surprise and fear for one another. They both had a faint idea of what was going to happen.

“While only fifty two years of age, this stallion has continued to smoke even though he has a history of high blood pressure and heart disease. This demonstrates very little appreciation of the blessings of his own life. Your game will focus on the simple element, of air.”

The two turned to the monitors next to them, each with their own steady rhythmic pattern.

“Once this game begins, every time you take a breath, the clamps around your chest will close in, and crush your body. The only escape is in the other’s failure. So I ask you when faced with death, who will survive? Live or die, Half Track. Make your choice.”

“FUCK YOU!” Half Track screamed at the voice.

“Who the hell is that?!” His friend replied.

The timer had started.

Half Track heard a click, which signaled the start of the test.

“Hold your breath!” He ordered his unfortunate opponent.

They both stopped breathing, and everything went quiet.

The monitors had stopped.

Silence.

Tensions were high, each one not knowing when the other would take their next breath. The only noise in the room had been the beeping of the timer. The two were straining to keep from breathing.

Calvin was shaking from the pressure, and could not hold his breath much longer. He had started to groan, and his face had gone red.

One breath.

The clamps had closed in on his ribs, forcing Calvin to cry out in pain.

Half Track was struggling not to breathe himself. He finally couldn't hold it anymore.

Another breath.

The gears were now moving, the clamp closing in on Half Track’s body.

The two were at a stalemate. Each one about to gulp in their next set of air. But who would it be?

Calvin was taking it much worse, the years of damaging his lungs had finally come back to haunt him. Calvin had to breathe. He just had to.

But it was Half Track who took his next breath. The clamps pushing his ribs even closer. A few eventually snapped, sending a volt of pain through his entire body.

The two were groaning from intense pain, each one waiting for the other to breathe.

Calvin took another breath, and the clamps closed in once more, crushing his ribs. Blood ran down his lower leg.

He took in another breath.

Another scream of pain. So much closer to the end.

Once more, Calvin sucked in another breath.

And another. And another.

His ribs eventually snapped outward, piercing his chest, and covering the floor in front of him in gore. Blood rand down his mouth, and his eyes were wide.

Calvin went limp.

He was dead.

Half Track did his best to look away from the sight of his dead friend. The clamps had released him. Half Track ripped off his face mask, untied the strap around his chest, and fell to the floor. He had doubled over, clutching his chest in agony.

He had looked over to where he was bleeding before, and noticed a scar with a line of stitches.

“Oh fuck. What the fuck…”

Half Track finally decides to get up, and he starts walking to the next room. Inside, he finds a chicken hatchery. The cases where the chickens were kept had been smashed open, leaving glass scattered on the floor. As he had been walking, he noticed something.

Two screens had lit up, revealing the words “Take them”. Below the screens were two handles.

“Fuck that…”

Half Track continued to walk, but he heard a fast beeping. He lifted his left hoof to find that it was the explosive device strapped to his leg.

“Shit.” He knew he had to take them.

He walked back over to the handles, but was hesitant. He pulled both handles at once, and he heard a generator running. A machine had started pulling the chains connected to the handles. The room behind a wall of glass in front of him had lit up, revealing a strange doll. It had been standing on a platform, but it soon fell, causing the doll to slam into the window. It had been hanged. Half Track jumped at this.

“SHIT!”

Half Track stared at the doll, but it started talking.

“Hello, Half Track. Standing on the platforms behind me are two of your colleagues. One, your file clerk. A young healthy male with no living relatives.”

The stallion on the platform in front of him was gagged with a cloth, and he could hear his muffled cries for help.

“The other, a middle aged mare. With a family history of diabetes. According to your policy, your secretary is older, and weaker, and therefore, less worthy to survive. But you know the loss there will be to her family. While young flash will disappear without a blip on the world’s radar. Only one can exit this room and the choice of whom falls upon you. You must let go of one to save the life of the other. As you can see, the choice is not so clear when you are face to face with the people whose blood will stain your hooves. Let the game begin.”

The machine pulled the doll up into the darkness.

“Wait! NO!” Half Track called after the doll.

“No! Wait! I won’t do this!” He pleaded for the doll to keep him from making this choice.

Both of their faces stared at Half Track with pleading eyes and looks of absolute terror. Both were screaming for him to choose them over the other.

“IT’S A BUSINESS!” Half Track looked over to the mare.

“MY DECISIONS AREN'T MADE THIS WAY!”

His face was tearful, and he desperately wanted to save both of them.

The machine pulled harder on the chains, and Half Track struggled to hold on to the handles. He had to make a choice soon.

“I’M NOT GOING TO DO IT!” He screamed at the doll.

Half Track could not cope with this choice.

The machines pulled even more, almost causing him to lose his grip on the mare’s chain. He screamed in pain from keeping the chains from slipping, and for the two ponies whose lives were entirely in Half Track’s hooves.

He stared at the photos of the two ponies. Of their lives. Of their families. He had started sobbing for both of them. He had to choose.

“I’m so sorry.”

He couldn't hold them anymore. If he didn't make his decision now, he would lose his grip on both of them.

“I’m sorry.”

He let go of the chain connected Flash, releasing the binds connected to his hooves. He stared at Half Track for a moment, and screamed at him in anger.

The platform fell, killing the stallion instantly. Flash’s body slammed into the window, smearing it with blood. His body was left hanging from the neck by a makeshift barbed wire noose. The mare was bawling her eyes out. She just couldn't cope with the pressure.

Half Track struggled to keep a hold on her chain. Flash’s body was raised into the darkness above, and the mare’s hooves were freed. She pulled the gag from her mouth.

“T-Thank you.” The mare had told him in relief.

A light at the end of the hallway lit up, revealing the timer and a door. Only thirty nine minutes left.

“You try and find a way out of here, Annie. Be careful!”

The mare nodded, and Half Track hurried to his next test.

Author's Note

Warning, if you don't like swearing, this chapter is not for you. then again, this author's note is probably useless considering you have most likely read the chapter already.

Relapse

“Where do you think the rest of the girls are?” Pinkie Pie asked her friend.

“I have no clue. Pinkie, we have been walking forever. Are you sure this is the right direction?”

“Yeah, I am pretty sure the sign said-“

Pinkie had stopped dead in her tracks. She had seen something.

“What is it?” Twilight asked.

Pinkie said nothing. She just stared at the Television in front of her. Twilight moved over to see what it had shown. Her heart sank.

“Sweet Celestia…”

The screen had shown a disoriented Rainbow Dash lying strapped to a table. A gigantic pendulum swinging above her. Ready to shed blood.

“We have to help her!” Pinkie pleaded.

The screen cut to jigsaw, his eyes staring blankly at the two. This startled Twilight.

“Unlike my other games with you two, I will allow you to help your friend escape. But be wary, she may yet die at your own hoof if you fail to complete my task.”

The TV had shut off, and the door had opened. The two hurried to greet their friend.

“Twilight! Pinkie! Where are we? Are you okay?”

Rainbow Dash had many questions to ask, but there was so little time.

Rainbow had been slightly relieved to see her friends, but she was still fearful for her life.

“Hello, Rainbow Dash.” A TV had turned on next to Rainbow.

Rainbow turned over to see a strange doll staring into her eyes. It gave her an odd feeling. Something she couldn’t explain.

“While intoxicated, you hit and killed a homeless pony while on your way home. With your minor experience as a forensic scientist, you knew just what to clean. But you couldn’t clean the guilt from your soul, could you?”

The dolls words had sunk into Rainbow’s mind.

“It was an accident! I couldn’t have possibly known he was there!” Rainbow pleaded.

“Oh, but you could have. You could have chosen to stay sober, and make your way back home safely with no harm. You even put an innocent pony in jail for your crime, all to preserve your perfect life. But you couldn’t stop the guilt from eating away at you, rotting you from the inside.”

Rainbow struggled to free herself, but even she couldn’t escape the emotional and physical restraints holding her back.

“Unless the friends you trust everyday can hold the blade, we will see what you really have inside.”

“C’mon Twilight! We gotta help Rainbow Dash!” Pinkie ran over to Rainbow, trying to figure out what how to stop the machinery.

“What are you waiting for Twilight? Help me already!” Rainbow yelled to Twilight.

“You killed sompony?” Twilight looked into Rainbow’s eyes with disgust and disappointment.

“I was drunk, Twilight! I didn’t want it to happen!”

Twilight stared coldly at Rainbow Dash.

“But you chose to cover it up. You even put an innocent pony in jail for what YOU DID!”

Twilight was angry with Rainbow, but she knew she couldn’t keep talking for long. The blade drew closer to Rainbow with every passing second, ready to cut her insides open.

“You didn’t even tell us you had a job before either! Since when were you a forensic scientist?” Twilight asked.

“I-I didn’t have much money. I had to pay the rent somehow! And it was only for a few months, I don’t think it would have really mattered if-“

“You had EVERY right to tell us, Rainbow. Not only was this irresponsible, but it was SELFISH AND CRUEL! I CAN’T EVEN TELL YOU HOW DISSAPOINTED I AM!”

Twilight was furious at her friend, but time was running out.

“Twilight, you got to help me! I don’t know how this works!” Pinkie had yelled to Twilight.

She had walked over to the strange contraption next to them. It looked like some sort of tablet with a few spinning gears.

“Time is running out. I will give you some information. Beside you in a container will be several gears, all different sizes. You must find a way to connect one end of the tablet to the other with the gears. There will be another tablet parallel to where you are standing. Once you complete both tasks, the pendulum will stop. One more thing to add, these gears have surpassed my barrier. I will allow you to use your magic on these gears.”

Twilight kicked over the container, and gears scattered all over the floor. With speed, Twilight connected the two sides with ease. Considering Twilight’s knowledge with these kinds of puzzles, it wasn’t that difficult for her to figure them out. As Twilight made her way to the second tablet, she heard a loud movement of machinery, and the pendulum had dropped about six inches.

“HURRY UP!” Rainbow cried out.

Twilight had found the second tablet to be more challenging; causing her to spend more time on calculating which piece should go where.

“Twilight, don’t you think we should do something?” Pinkie asked.

“I am trying to figure out where these gears should go.” Twilight replied.

“But won’t it be easier just to try them until you figure it out?”

“No, because if I have the wrong gear, I would have to remove it, put it back in the box, retrieve another one, and try that. It would take too long.” Twilight explained.

She thought she had figured it out. She had placed the gears in the right position with her magic, and she heard a loud creaking. The pendulum finally stopped.

“That was close…”

Rainbow Dash was relieved that her friends had saved her from this nightmare.

Just then, the blade of the pendulum had broken, and landed in between her legs, almost cutting her in half. The metal cuffs had released, and Rainbow jumped up from the table.

“Thanks girls. I thought I was going to die back there.”

Although Pinkie was excited about saving her best friend, Twilight still had a cold look on her face. Rainbow Dash noticed this.

“Look Twilight, this happened a long time ago. Can’t we just forget this and move on? We have to find the other girls.”

“You know I can’t forget this.” Twilight replied.

Rainbow Dash sighed, and they moved on through the hallways.

_________________________________________________________________________

Half Track opened the door to his next test, but was greeted by a blinding light and incredible heat.

“This must be a boiler room or something…” He noted to himself.

The door locked behind him, and Half Track tried his hardest to open it. The door wouldn’t budge.

“Shit.”

Half Track looked back to find a catwalk with steam coming out from the sides. There was an audio tape hanging from the ceiling. Half Track took the tape and played it.

“Hello, Half Track. You have seen the flaws in your policy, but what you have not seen is the extent some ponies will go to when faced with death.”

A light beneath him reveals his co-worker, strapped to the wall with chains, and gagged with a piece of cloth. She screamed for Half Track to help her.

“The lawyer from your firm has ninety seconds to cross this room or the device attached to her chest will discharge and pierce her brain.”

“You’re going to be okay! You are gonna be alright!” He tried to assure her.

“She will find that the journey across this room is filled with danger. In order for her to make it, you will need to be there for her and it is you who ultimately holds the key to her survival. When faced with death, will she have the skills to live? Let the game begin.”

A timer had started, and she was released from the chains. She had fallen to the floor, and was now trying to remove the device from her body.

“Spark! Listen to me!”

“What the fuck is this!” She yelled back at him.

Spark banged against the chain-link walls around her, pacing back and forth in frustration.

“GET ME THE FUCK OUT OF HERE!” She yelled up to Half Track.

“HEY! LISTEN TO ME!!” He desperately tried to get her attention.

She finally decided to listen, and was looking up at Half Track with attention.

“OK, you gotta get through this maze as fast as you can! Move now!” He ordered Spark.

The maze was filled with steam and it was challenging to see a few feet ahead. Spark was already sweating and struggled to keep moving.

“There you go! You can make it!”

Half Track tried to assure her the best he could.

Spark now had to crawl through an even smaller maze, one which triggered her claustrophobia.

“I can’t do this…”

She was sweating profusely and was already feeling lightheaded.

“You can do this! Just go!” Half Track yelled down to her.

“This is insane! I can’t…”

“Yes you can! You have to keep moving!”

Spark leaned down to crawl through the tight space, but steam from a pipe shot into her face, which singed her yellow coat. She cried out in pain. Half Track had a look of sadness on his face, like he knew what was going to happen next.

Half Track noticed a sign that said “Relieve her” with a valve above it.

“Wait! I think I can help you up here!” He called down.

As he turned the valve, it shut off the steam below, but released more above, burning his face. He covered his face from the hot steam, and Spark was waiting on him.

“It worked! Do the other one!”

Half Track moved to the other valve.

“Alright, you ready?” He asked.

“Yeah!”

Half Track turned the valve, and the next set of steam dispersed, causing even more steam to singe his hooves and face. He tried his hardest to hold the valve in place, but the pain was just too much.

Spark was crawling quickly through the cramped spaces, and was almost near the end. Half Track couldn’t hold it anymore, and he let go. Steam shot right into Spark’s face, and the both were screaming in agony from the burns.

Spark quickly escaped the tight space, and moved on through the maze, her flesh melting from the high temperatures.

“Keep going!”

Half Track screamed to her once more, desperately trying to keep her moving through the maze.

In front of her, she saw two steady streams of hot, burning steam. Spark couldn’t move on any further.

“Keep moving! You can do this!”

“I CAN’T!!” She screamed at him.

Spark started to cry, but the intense heat of the maze evaporated her tears immediately.

“I’M FUCKING TRAPPED! I CAN’T!”

Half Track looked everywhere for a form of escape. He had noticed a ladder at the very end.

“No, there is a ladder at the end! Just go under, I’ll help you!”

She was hesitant, but finally decided to move.

“You ready?”

Half Track reached over to the third valve.

“GO!”

He turned the valve, and screamed from sheer agony. Spark moved quickly through the pathway, but was stopped halfway from steam. Half Track had let go, and was lying on the floor from exhaustion. Spark moved climbed up the ladder quickly, burning her hooves on the way up.

“C’mon Spark, climb! Come on, you are almost there!”

Spark had made it to the top, and was leaning against the barrier between her and Half Track. The two stared at each other for a long while. Panting from exhaustion.

“ Okay, look for a key. Theres got to be a key.” He ordered her.

Spark looked everywhere for a key, but could not find anything.

“LOOK FOR A KEY!” He screamed.

Just then, a light had shown on several X-Ray photos, she moved over to examine them. She saw that the key had been placed in Half Track’s side.

“WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?”

She looked at him with surprise in her eyes.

“It’s in you!”

Half Track realized what the scar had come from.

“IT’S FUCKING INSIDE YOU!”

“Oh fuck…” He had no idea what to do.

Twenty Seconds left.

“Okay, I can do this.”

Spark opened the door, and walked over with a saw blade in her hooves.

“What the fuck are you doing?” He asked.

“I NEED THAT FUCKING KEY!”

She swung the blade, just barely missing him by an inch. She swung again, but he dodged this one too. She was temporarily stunned, and Half Track took this opportunity. He punched her with all of his strength, which knocked her back into the wall. She came back and jabbed him right in the chest, knocking the wind right out of him. In return, she took a hard slap to the face. She was leaning over the rail.

Only four seconds left.

Spark needed that key. She needed to stay alive. She walked back over to Half Track and lifted the blade.

“I CAN GET IT, I CAN GET IT!” He screamed at her.

As she was about to lower the blade, the timer went off. She heard a click, and the device strapped to her chest had shot a spear up into her lower jaw, and it drove right into her skull.

“OH GOD NO!”

She stumbled into the railing, and fell over into a boiler. Her flesh melting right off her bones as she sank into the molten ash.

“Oh fuck…”

Half Track turned over to the timer.

Twenty seven minutes left.

He was running out of time.

He opened the door, and he found a key. With anger, he ripped it away and continued down the dark hallways.

Reckoning

“Oh Rainbow, I am so glad we finally get to see you!” Pinkie had told her friend in excitement.

All Rainbow Dash could think about was her past. The pony that she had killed the night she was intoxicated. The doll’s words had echoed in the back of her mind for hours. She looked over to Twilight, who was trying her best to ignore her.

“Twilight, I-“

“Save it for later, Rainbow. We have to keep moving.”

Ever since she learned what Rainbow did, she had been in a terrible mood.

“Will you just cut it out? We are friends! Friends are supposed to forgive each other. What about everything you've learned from-“

“Friendship has nothing to do with this Rainbow, and you know it! You killed sompony, and you didn't even tell us! You could have told the police that it was an accident, and we could have helped you. I still can’t believe you would cover it up and frame it on another.”

Pinkie was starting to get upset. She hated it when her friends fought.

“He was homeless! It’s not like he had any family that cared about him!”

Rainbow was frustrated that she wouldn't let this go.

“I can’t believe you would say something like that! He could’ve had sompony that cared about him. And even if he didn’t, you can’t just treat him like an outcast. He was a pony, just like everyone else. He had a mind, a body, and a soul. How can you be so inconsiderate to-“

“STOP FIGHTING!” Pinkie screamed at the two.

“Can’t we just forget about what Rainbow did until this is over? We still need to find Rarity, AppleJack, and Fluttershy.”

Pinkie noticed an audiotape lying on the floor in front of her.

“Oh great, what does he have to say now?” Rainbow muttered.

Pinkie played the audio tape.

“You are so concerned with evidence, Twilight, data that you can see. This is why we are so alike. It is only by shedding light on our pain that we can see who we have become. Perhaps your perception will change when you step behind the curtain. To do so, use the lights, and trust your eyes.”

“What the hell does that even mean?” Rainbow asked.

Twilight was starting to feel hot, and she had to move away from the others.

“What’s wrong Twilight? You have something to share with us?” Rainbow asked.

A door had opened, leading to the next room.

“What was that noise?” Pinkie asked.

Twilight was relieved of this distraction.

“I think another door opened. But where is it?” Twilight wondered.

Twilight had noticed a spotlight, facing a stage most likely used for shows.

“What is that?” Rainbow asked.

“These were still in development by the time I first met you girls. They were a more effective way to generate light than candles or magic.” Twilight explained.

“Can we use it?” She asked.

“Yeah, but I am going to need a working bulb. I will take a look around.”

Twilight wandered around the area, searching every cabinet and crevice. She had no clue where it could be.

“I am going to have to walk for a bit. Stay here, and stay on your guard.”

The two nodded, and Twilight checked every room for the bulb. In the distance, she could hear a noise coming from down the hallway. It sounded like screaming.

“Girls! I think you should check this out!” Twilight yelled to her friends.

The two arrived, and Twilight was prepared for anything.

“Listen.” She told her friends.

They kept quiet, hoping to hear the pony’s cries for help.

“No! Not again! You can’t kidnap me again! Haven’t I suffered enough?” It was a mare’s voice.

“You fail to learn the reason for your suffering, Rarity. Life is worth preserving.” Jigsaw told her.

“But I don’t want the pain anymore!”

“The closer you get to losing everything, the more you will understand why life is so precious.”

The talking ended there.

“That was Rarity! We have to go help her!” Pinkie wanted to move on more than anything.

“You two ready?” Twilight asked her friends.

The both nodded.

With a swift push, she and her friends stumbled into a larger room with a surgical table in the middle.

Writing on the floor read “To the left and the right. Down each path is the light.”

“What the?”

Twilight was sure this would end badly.

“Two paths converge on the same objective. The order is irrelevant.” Jigsaw had told them.

“Which way should we go?” Pinkie asked.

Twilight thought about it for a while, but she came down to a decision.

“I think we should take a right.”

They walked through the right doorway, and were greeted by a long hallway. They reached the end of the hallway, and noticed a room with a TV.

“This has got to be the way.”

Rainbow was about to step into the room.

“WAIT!” Twilight yelled after her.

“What the hell are you yelling about?” Rainbow asked.

“Look.”

Twilight pointed to Rainbow’s hooves, and she gulped as she noticed what was wrong. A tripwire had been placed in the doorway. As Rainbow followed the wire, she noticed it was connected to the trigger of a shotgun (Of course they don’t know what that is) hanging overhead. It was aiming right at Rainbow’s face.

“What is that?” She asked.

“I don’t know, but watch your step.”

The three cautiously entered the room, and searched everywhere for some sort of clue. Twilight found a coupler inside a cabinet.

“I guess I can use this.” She said to herself.

They made their way down the hallway once more, and decided to check another room.

“Now carefully open the door, Rainbow.”

Rainbow Dash slowly pushed the door open, but she had heard something.

“Shit…” She cursed at herself.

It was too late.

A large blade had swung out from above.

“GET DOWN!” She yelled to her friends.

She quickly dodged the blade which could have literally sliced her in half.

“He’s got this place locked down pretty tight.” Rainbow said as her friends walked through the door.

“There it is.” Twilight walked over to a fuse box near Rainbow.

“How do you know what these things are?” Rainbow asked.

“I took a couple of classes in Engineering. We had to work on these sorts of things. Apparently Jigsaw had put good use to them.”

“Who’s Jigsaw?” Rainbow was confused.

“The pony that almost killed you.” Twilight replied.

Twilight opened the box, and noticed that the wires have been cut.

“Dammit. I will have to reconnect these wires with this coupler. It might take a while.”

It took Twilight some time, but she finally brought power to the fuse box. A red button had appeared on the wall. Twilight pressed it, and another door had opened, leading to a hallway.

“Let’s hope we don’t have to spend too much time in here. Let’s go.”

The three moved down the next hallway, and stopped at a door with several Televisions beside it.

A few had read “Bear guilt” And another showed Rarity connected to a strange device.

“You were robbed of your first test. You were found and released before you could answer my question. Do you want to die, Rarity?”

She had tried her hardest to release herself from the strange device.

“I…I don’t! I want to live!” She pleaded to the voice.

“And yet even after escaping me once, you tried to kill yourself again. You did not learn your lesson.”

“It wasn't like that! That time was different! This cop, he was harassing me, making me live it over and over again! He wouldn't leave me alone!”

The screen had cut to static, and Twilight had noticed a piece of paper on the floor beneath her. She picked it up, and I had read:

“Find light bulbs within Staff Housing and the Cafeteria. Find a combination to the Cafeteria.”

Twilight had a smug look on her face.

“Well isn't this just my luck.”

Twilight had memorized the location of the Staff Housing, but she needed the combination to the Cafeteria in front of her, which held the second light bulb.

This was starting to get confusing.

“What is it?” The two asked almost simultaneously.

“It’s nothing. Follow me.” She ordered the two.

They tried to backtrack their way to the Staff House, but Twilight noticed three TVs with the numbers 0, 3, and 8.

“That must be the combination to the Cafeteria.” Twilight thought to herself.

They moved back to the Cafeteria door, and she tried the combination.

It worked.

The three moved into the Cafeteria. The room was smaller than the other two expected, and was a total mess. Tables were flipped and there were ashes everywhere.

“What? I didn't say it was a big Cafeteria.” Twilight reminded the two.

They made their way into the freezer, but the door locked behind them.

“The door is locked, Twilight. Find a way out, if you can. Better hurry, before you freeze and join the rest of the meat.”

Another door had opened, revealing several frozen pigs on carts.

“What the hell is this?” Rainbow asked in disgust.

“I forgot to mention, most of our patients preferred meat. Don’t ask me why.”

They hurried into the room and tried to figure out the puzzle.

“Move the carts in the order I tell you to.” Twilight told her friends.

“Why?” Rainbow asked.

“Just do it! It’s the only way we can escape.”

The two complied, and they rearranged the carts as Twilight told them to. Soon enough, the exit was uncovered, and the three quickly moved up the staircase.

“That wasn't so hard.” Rainbow Dash had said in her usual cocky form.

“It seems that Jigsaw is getting sloppy.” Twilight had said to herself.

She walked over and opened a box on a table, revealing the first light bulb.

“Finally…”

Twilight was relieved that she had only one more light bulb to look for.

“You have found a tool in your search for enlightenment. Now find the other in the staff residence halls.” Jigsaw had told them.

They made their way back to the room with the surgical chair, and this time took the left path. They reached the door outside the staff housing, when Twilight noticed another TV screen with Rarity.

“I don’t know his name; I think it was Half Track or something. It was his fault! He saved me from your trap, but then he wouldn't leave me alone! He kept asking about you, over and over, following me, waiting outside my house!”

“He wanted to catch me at all costs.” Jigsaw said.

“But he didn't care about me! He just kept beating me over the head with questions. I… I wanted to escape him, escape it all!” Rarity explained.

“There is no escape. You will soon learn that.” Jigsaw had assured her.

They hurried into the room to try and find the next light bulb. Luckily, this one was easier to find.

“Now we should head back to the theater.” Twilight told her friends.

They backtracked their way to the theater, and Twilight inserted the bulbs into the spotlight. There was already one light inside, so the two lights had completed the puzzle. The lights shone upon three boards. As Twilight was testing the lights, she found that she could change each of them into a different color, which revealed its own number for the code to a door. The colors were Red, Blue, and Green.

Twilight had an idea.

“Rainbow Dash, in what order are these colors on the rainbow?”

Rainbow Dash was confused.

“Well, it is pretty easy. Red comes first, Green second, and Blue last.”

Twilight changed the lights to the order in which Rainbow described, and sure enough, Jigsaw’s voice came in over a speaker.

“You have the solution to open the lock. Now hurry to the stage and step behind the curtain.”

The three ran downstairs to input the combination, and it worked. They did as Jigsaw commanded, and arrived at the stage.

“You sure we should do this? It sounds a lot like a trap.” Pinkie asked.

“What other choice do we have?” Twilight reminded Pinkie.

The three stepped behind the curtain, and found Rarity strapped to a table upright. She had her eyes closed from the hours of struggling. When she noticed her friends beside her, a thought of hope flickered in her mind.

“Hello Rarity. Day after day you live alone, isolating yourself to avoid the stress of reality. You have tried to take your own life on multiple occasions because you cannot endure the mental pain of everyday life.”

Rarity lifted her head to see the doll staring back at her. She understood his words.

“Now you will have to endure real pain. The game is simple. Twilight must match all the corresponding symbols, and you will be released. Match the wrong symbols, and a metal spike will pierce your body. Match too many wrong symbols, and your suffering will end.”

There was a mass of TVs, all of them static but one. It was a jigsaw piece.

Twilight decided to turn on the one next to it, and it matched with another jigsaw piece. It became clear what Jigsaw wanted Twilight to do.

“Twilight, what are you supposed to do?”

Twilight looked down at the ground. She knew she was in entire control of Rarity’s life.

“I have to guess.”

Rarity did not seem fazed by any of this at all. She had gone through so much, and there was nothing to be afraid of now.

“What?! That is insane! How can you just guess which ones match?” Rainbow asked.

“He had faith in me before. I think he wants me to prove myself.” Twilight replied.

Twilight took a deep breath, and turned on another TV. A saw had appeared.

“Okay Twilight. Everything is alright. All you have to do is get another saw.”

Twilight closed her eyes, and turned on another one. She opened her eyes.

It was wrong.

A five foot pole had impaled Rarity’s right hoof, and she screamed in agony.

Twilight cringed. She tried to calm herself down and try another one. She turned on a TV, and a nail had appeared. She took in a deep breath, and turned on another Television.

They matched.

Twilight sighed with relief, and she continued this pattern. For a while, she got a lot of them right. She was confident that she would get these next two right. She chose two at random, and prayed for them to be correct.

They weren't.

Another pole had gone through Rarity’s other hoof.

Twilight was starting to get nervous. She tried another pair. The first had depicted a shotgun. Twilight wished that Princess Celestia was there to guide her. To help her with this twisted game.

She was wrong again.

A pole had impaled Rarity’s chest, and her eyes were starting to lose life.

Twilight broke down in tears.

“I… I’m so sorry Rarity. I can’t do this…”

Twilight couldn't bear to see her friend in pain like this.

With all her strength, Rarity glanced over to Twilight.

“Don’t worry, darling. You did your best. Try again now. I believe you can do this.” Rarity assured her friend.

Twilight nodded with tearful eyes, and turned to the last two pairs of TVs. With a shaking hoof, she turned on the first one. A nail had appeared.

Twilight couldn't cope with the pressure anymore. She looked back at Rarity, and she gave Twilight a nod. She also had tears in her eyes.

Twilight chose another TV.

For a moment the room went silent, and all four of them had stood there, anxiously waiting for the next symbol.

A skull had appeared.

Twilight screamed at the Television.

Quickly, one last rusty pole had pierced Rarity’s throat, killing her instantly.

Twilight, Pinkie Pie, and Rainbow Dash all cried for Rarity. They held each other for that moment. Not even Jigsaw chose to greet them.

Author's Note

Guess what? I'M BACK! Apparently I am a dumbass and misread my flight information. Apparently my plane leaves next week. so MORE STORIES!! Anyways, I had this huge long puzzle with throwing bricks at pig carcasses to weight down a scale to retrieve a key to a door, which leads to a fuse for a fuse box, which opens the freezer door. I decided to scrap all that. I was also planning on extending the freezer scene, but I chose against that. How is moving carts of pigs exciting?

Repercussions

The three mares had arrived at a door after a half an hour of walking through several hallways and completing puzzles. They were all tired, and ready to complete their next task. As they walked through the door, it had closed shut behind them.

“Let us out!”

Rainbow Dash banged on the metal door, hoping to damage it and free her and her friends from the room. This proved useless.

“Rainbow, quiet down a little. I think I hear something.” Twilight said.

“Well I don’t hear anything. And I am sure not going to play another one of this psychopath’s games!”

The three of them were too tired to argue, and they decided to rest while Jigsaw prepared his game.

_____________________________________________________________________________

Half-Track had only one thing on his mind while following Jigsaw’s path, and that was finding his family. It had been the only thing keeping him going through all these tests. He finally had reached the door leading to his family with ten seconds to spare, and he let out a sigh of relief.

“I fucking made it…”

Half-Track walked into the room, and with no surprise, the door locked behind him. The room was dark, but he noticed two cages on each side of him. He could not believe he would be able to return to his loving wife and son.

“I MADE IT!” He yelled at Jigsaw.

Two walls slid open, one revealing Twilight and her friends, the other revealing his family. Half-Track and Twilight just stared at each other for a moment, a look of shock on both of their faces.

“What are you doing here?” He asked.

“Half-Track!” Faith called out.

He turned around and ran to his wife and son. It has been so long since he had seen their faces.

“I’m so glad you’re alive, dad! I missed you so much.” His son said, barely able to control his excitement.

“I missed you too. Both of you.” He replied tearfully.

“Are you alright?” He asked both of them. The two nodded.

“LET THEM GO! I MADE IT, I WON!” He screamed at Jigsaw.

There was no reply.

Anger was building up inside Twilight. She had known this stallion very well before all this.

“You…” Twilight muttered, almost furious.

Half-Track turned to Twilight, a hint of sadness shown across his face.

A Television tuned on behind the girls. The doll greeting them once more.

“Hello Twilight. I am sure you remember this stallion very well. The two of you were…Remarkably close. We will see if this certain history affects your decision.”

Her friends looked to her in confusion.

“What is he talking about?” Pinkie asked.

“I…I don’t know…”

“You know I don’t take kindly to lying, Princess. Why have you not even mentioned this to the ponies that you convince yourself to be your friends? Is it from repressed emotions, or something much more? Please explain to us why this stallion is so special.” Jigsaw wanted her friends to know the truth.

Twilight looked around at all the faces staring at her, and she finally realized it was time to confess.

“Before I met you girls, after I worked at this asylum, there were several cases of murders around the towns I had visited. The police wanted my knowledge to assist them in finding the murderer. I was paired up with Half-Track. This is why I know him. We later started dating. One day he got a lead on the killer, and decided to investigate.”

Twilight’s voice had started to waver.

“This was the day he saved Rarity from one of the killer’s traps. He started to call them the “Jigsaw Killer” from the many jigsaw puzzle drawings on the walls. He was obsessed with Jigsaw. He kept insisting on finding this maniac. He just disappeared altogether later on. It was only until a few weeks earlier that I noticed something was wrong with Rarity.”

“I’m sorry Twilight. I couldn't help it. I just didn't want anypony else to die…” Half-Track pleaded.

“But with this obsession, you led another life to its end. With your constant bombardment of questions and forceful authority, you drove this mare insane. Causing her attempt to end her life on several occasions, isolating herself from society. This is what brought her here.” Jigsaw interrupted.

“Twilight, the pony before you just made the sacrifices to save the lives of his only family. However, this is also the pony that brought Rarity’s life to an end. Now you will be given the power to save a life. Will you grant this stallion the opportunity to continue living, or will you dispense the same death sentence he issued your friend. Live or die. The choice is yours.”

Half-Track had a sudden realization.

“It’s not my game…”

He walked over to Twilight’s cage, and pleaded for her to let him live.

“Just please, don’t do this…”

He looked into her eyes, but even he could not pin down her true thoughts.

Twilight had some time to think.

“What are you waiting for? Just kill him! He is the one who brought Rarity here!”

Rainbow was angry at Twilight’s hesitation to immediately eradicate his life.

Twilight made her decision quickly.

“No.” Twilight decided.

“WHAT!?” Everyone in the room gasped almost simultaneously.

Twilight was confident with her answer.

“I don’t want to kill him. Taking revenge on sompony is not the correct way to resolve things, even if they caused the death of your friend.”

Jigsaw was furious from this.

“NO! THIS IS NOT HOW IT IS SUPPOSED TO BE!” He screamed at Twilight.

His whole plan was ruined, and he would now have to start a whole new one.

Then he had an idea.

“No matter. I had made minor preparations, if you for some reason decided to spare him. You will now learn that every choice you make in life has repercussions.”

Half-Track turned back to his Wife and son, and heard a small beeping.

“What is that noise?” He asked.

Faith had reached around to the back of her head, and felt a small scar behind her ear.

“Oh no…”

Quickly, his wife and son’s heads had burst outward, creating a mess of brain matter and fragments of skull. Their bodies slowly slumped to the ground.

“NO!!” Half-Track screamed.

“What the fuck…”

He started to cry over the bloodied carcasses in front of him.

He pounded the ground in anger. After all that has happened, after all he went through to see his family. They were gone forever now.

“FUCK YOU!!!” He screamed at the ceiling with tearful eyes.

Twilight was devastated. She thought she had made the right choice by letting him live.

“Why would you do this?” He asked Twilight.

The only thing she could do was stare at the ground.

“Why didn't you kill me? WHY WOULD YOU DO THIS?!”

Twilight had nothing to say.

The cage walls had lifted, allowing them all to move towards their next objective.

“I hope you understand the true consequences of your decisions, Twilight. It may not seem like the right thing to do, but you must think about others. Think about what would happen to them if you made this choice. Now you will have to live with the burden of murdering a pony’s family. All of you must work to complete my next test cooperatively. If you fail to do so, you might have a challenging time. Learn to accept others mistakes.”

“Accept my ass.” Half-Track muttered.

There was still an ever lingering tension between Twilight and Half-Track. Rainbow and Pinkie decided to stay out of their way for the time being. They didn't want to start anything that could be potentially harmful to the group morale, if it wasn't already dead.

_________________________________________________________________________________

They arrived at four doors, each one with the sign “Observation”.

“Hello. If you remember anything from our last lesson, it is that every choice has repercussions. This is a prime example of that lesson. Before you are four doors, each one a separate room from the other. I would like you to step into these rooms.”

The four reluctantly did so.

“You will choose the fate of two ponies. Ones that you hold most dear to yourselves.”

Two curtains lifted, revealing a cowering Fluttershy in one room, and an aggressive AppleJack, each with contraptions on their heads.

“The devices latched on to their faces are one of my prized possessions. Like I said, you will be deciding the fate of these two ponies. But it will not be in the form you are expecting. You will vote for who lives, and who dies with the two buttons in front of you. The pony with the most votes gets released from the device. The other, however, will meet a much worse fate. The Death Mask has spikes built in. Once the mask closes, her head will be impaled several times at once from both sides. Imagine it as a…Venus Fly Trap. Although I doubt you have any knowledge of Flora from indigenous parts of Equestria. If there is a tie, both ponies will die. You are all in total control of these mares’ fates. Which life will you sacrifice to save the other? You can have as much time as you can.”

No other test has had as much of an effect on Twilight as this one did. How can anypony be this cruel? Twilight wished she didn't have to vote on one of her best friends. But wishes don’t come true here. There will never be happiness even if Twilight escapes this nightmare alive. Nothing will be the same no matter what she does to stop it. Jigsaw is finally starting to make sense.

Author's Note

Sorry if I am taking too long to put in chapters, or if they are a bit shorter, or if maybe my wording is a bit off. I just have real life work to do, and I am pretty tired by the time I get home and write out the chapter.This is more of a hobby. Had a harder time to get on track from my long weekend off work. Also, I made a typo in the comments from my last chapter. I actually get home at five, not four.

Silence

Silence.

Such a mysterious word.

The word can bring positive or negative connotation, depending on the situation. A peaceful night at the beach can bring blissful silence, while sensory deprivation in total isolation can be complete hell. Sometimes, however, silence is the only option.

Sometimes, there are just events that cannot be described in words. There are events that invoke such terror, that there is a sudden loss of words.

Silence.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The surrounding walls were cold, not the type of cold you would experience on a winter day, but something else. The walls gave off an unnatural aura, one of bone-chilling dread. Silence was filled throughout the room. All was quiet except for the racing heartbeat of tortured souls.

One mare had been confronted by an impossible decision. Indirectly murder one of your best friends, so the other can live. The only possible thing that can make this situation any worse is having to VOTE for your favorite friend.

Oops.

Time had begun to slow down for Twilight; her heart pacing increasingly faster by each passing second. Her eyes had begun to tear up at the mere thought of losing another friend. Pinkie had already begun bawling.

“Do you find this difficult, Twilight? Do you find yourself not being able to rely on your friends this time? Not everyone has the luxury of never having to worry. You, however, get your so-called “friends” to do your dirty work, leaving them to deal with the repercussions of YOUR ACTIONS. It is time to take matters into your own hands. The clock is ticking Twilight. Make your choice,” Said the menacing voice as it broke the silence.

Twilight hated that voice.

But at the same time, it invoked a sense of fear.

That thing’s voice gave off an intimidating presence, one that shook even the strongest ponies to their very core. Twilight felt that it could kill her off at any moment if it wanted. Just like that, her entire existence erased along with this hellhole.

“I…I don’t think I can…”

Twilight was experiencing a plethora of emotions. Sadness. Anger. Nostalgia. There’s no possible way Twilight can make this decision herself.

“Twilight, listen to me,” Rainbow Dash called from a parallel room.

“I know how hard this is going to be, but you gotta listen. These are my friends too. I practically grew up with Fluttershy. But if you really don’t know what to do, think of AJ. What would she want?”

Twilight couldn’t cope with what she was hearing. She didn’t want to.

“No, there has to be another way!” Twilight shouted as she shook her head, nervously pacing around what could be called a room.

“Yeah, there is. They both die, and we can be on our way,” Another voice called out.

“Hey asshole, why don’t you shut your mouth and let her think!?” Dash scolded Half-Track.

“Maybe I wouldn’t be in such a bad mood if she just LET ME DIE!” He replied.

“The mare I had spent my life with for twenty years, TWENTY YEARS, is dead. My son, my ONLY son, is dead. All because that bitch still had feelings for me. Do you know what that’s like? To have your whole family murdered in front of you because of another’s affection? OF COURSE I’M PISSED!!”

Half-Track’s bellows reverberated off of the cold stone walls. Silence once again filled the air.

Rainbow Dash did not make a sound.

Not long after, a faint sob could be heard. No one dared speak to him.

Suddenly, something clicked in Twilights mind. She finally realized. It’s all so clear now.

“What’s that, Twilight? Are you finally realizing the error of your ways? When faced with a decision, you chose what you wanted. This, in turn, impacted the life of a stallion ready to die. After all these years, you still have feelings for him. It’s not what he wanted. He wanted his family to be safe, to live their lives. He wanted the family name to continue. Because of you, his bloodline ends here. Your childish love story caused the end of two innocent souls. You realize that the same will happen here, unless you listen. Listen to their pleading Twilight…”

Listen to their pleading.

Jigsaw’s statement echoed in Twilight’s mind. She wished she could just turn back time and make the right decision. But inside she knows that can’t happen. It’s all her fault, and she has to deal with the consequences.

Please, Twilight…

Twilight now understands what she must do.

She slowly shifts over to a small red lever on her right, and pulls on it with both hooves. She did not understand the exact use of the lever, but the sound of grinding gears could be heard underneath the chilling floor. The same sound could be heard on Rainbow’s side, then on Pinkie’s. The choice has been made.

Nothing happened.

Twilight was confused, and then she remembered.

“Do not get too excited. You still have one vote pending,” The voice said.

A feeling of dread lingered as Twilight realized it wouldn’t be that easy to convince Half-Track.

“Look…Uhh…I’m really sorry about your family…” Twilight began.

“Oh I bet you are. I also bet you said the same thing to all the “faithful citizens” you turned down in their time of need, huh?” He remarked.

“Do you really think I am that god damn stupid to just bow down and listen to what you say? You think you can just say you’re sorry and amends are made? You killed off my only two reasons for living. Now I’m going to do the same.”

Twilight was shocked at that statement.

There’s no way he can actually do that. He’s not going to do what I think he will do, right? Twilight thought to herself.

“I want you to feel the same pain. I want you to suffer as I suffered,” He explained.

“Half-Track, please! You can’t do this! They’re our friends too!” Pinkie shouted tearfully.

“Even better. I bet Twilight is used to that. Causing her friends’ suffering through her own actions.”

If Twilight could see his expression through these walls, she knew he would be grinning.

Twilight jumped as the wall next to her began to shake, dust particles scattered around at each vibration.

“I swear I’ll punch your stupid face in!” Rainbow shouted though the walls as she pounded them with both hooves.

A sudden feeling of rage surged through Twilight’s body as she became enraged at Half-Track’s behavior. She was at a loss of words. The only thing she could do was stomp her hoof on the floor and pray that her friends could convince him to make some decision, anything. They couldn’t.

“Ten seconds,” The voice said.

It was now or never. She had to try.

“Half-Track, please, DON’T DO THIS! PLEASE!!” Twilight screamed through tearful eyes, throwing herself against the nearest wall.

“It’s too late,” He began.

“You caused this. You must face the consequences.”

Several voices began shouting and pleading, nothing seemed to work.

“5…4…3…2…” The voice counted down.

Time had begun to slow down for twilight, her heart pacing increasingly faster by each passing millisecond. One second felt like an eternity. And in this one second, she could feel one, and only one emotion.

Hatred.

It is not in her nature. She is not a violent pony, but something changed. She wanted Half-Track to suffer. She wanted her captor to suffer. Everyone that had crossed her needed to suffer. She hated the world in that one moment. She could think of a million ways to torture those that angered her, but none of these would extinguish the fire that roared in her heart. For every tear that dropped, she boiled from her immense rage. The cold, dank room she resided in instantly became scorching from her insatiable wrath. She would kill every last one of them if she had to.

Kill them all

“One,” The voice echoed.

In an instant, Twilight’s rage had ceased, and she felt one more emotion.

Fear.

The mechanisms attached to Applejack and Fluttershy’s heads had violently opened, ripping their lower jaw completely away from their skull, tearing flesh and skin. Blood painted the walls around them, as their bodies slumped lifelessly to the similarly chilled floor. Twilight felt yet another feeling.

Sadness.

A bloodcurdling shriek came from Twilight as she lost total control over her emotions. Her body collapsed, showering Twilight in darkness.

All was silent.

Silence.

The Journal

Entry one, hour zero,

For anyone who is reading this, you most likely will have found me lying in a pool of my own bodily waste. By the very slim chance that I do survive, I will leave this journal for anyone who happens to come across it. I will try and track the time as best I can, writing a new entry every hour if possible. Here I go.

I currently live with a group of four. Three stallions and one mare. At the moment I will not disclose their names, as it is useless to do so. It’s not like it will matter anyways. I first met them after waking up in some sort of cell. It was too dark to see much, but as my eyes adjusted, I wished I had kept them closed. The room was musty and moldy. It seemed like it hadn't been cleaned in years. To my left was a steel bed, the mattress worn out and springs pierced the cheap material. The walls were drawn all over with crayons and paint. Red paint. They read:

We are chosen. We must follow the path.

It wasn't long until I realized it was not red paint. I gazed upon a stallion, hung from the ceiling by several bed sheets. Dark red lacerations across his forearms were possibly used to write the words. I’m still not sure how he got up there, or what the sheets were tied to. As fast as I could, I quietly walked over to the door. There was no way in hell I would be able to open it. It seemed to have been locked from the outside. From a little latch hole near the top I managed to make out a hallway and the room across from me. There was a pony in the adjacent room, just sitting in the corner.

“HEY!! HEY YOU!” I called out to them.

The pony didn't answer, but I had heard several voices from my left approaching. It was a group, and they ever so kindly unlocked the door for me. I am still unsure how they acquired the key. As I made my way down the hall with my new-found allies, I turned to inspect the pony. They had passed a long while ago, it had seemed. Their body had become so mangled and disfigured that I could not tell its gender. Barbed wire had been wrapped around the body, entering and exiting the mouth, eye sockets, and every bodily orifice. A large incision had been made in the belly, intestines and other bodily organs overflowing out of the slit. It reminded me of a biology class I used to take. Huh…It reminds me…Of her…I wonder if she notices that I’m gone.

Entry two, hour one,

We have found a new place to set up camp. We are actually well defended, believe it or not. Everyone is armed with a weapon; let it be a rusty pipe, scissors, or a large nail. Everyone is able to defend themselves, all except me. I don’t mind it. Soon they will learn to trust me.

Entry three, hour five,

That puppet…THAT DAMN PUPPET!! He murdered one of our own today; I think his name was Envenenado or something. He was given a choice to eat two apples. Both identical in color, shape, and size. They were both a glistening shade of golden yellow. He was told that one held the key to salvation, and the other his demise. The bastard was always cocky. He felt like trusting his gut, and he chose the right apple without hesitation. Must have been a sick day. Before long, he began to cough. Then he began to vomit. And when he could not vomit, his body violently convulsed until he coughed up his own stomach. Let’s just say he became twenty pounds lighter.

Entry four, hour six,

I caught Cecile eyeing my just now. Not exactly sure if she was checking me out or she was deciding whether to trust me. I think she’s pretty cute. She reminds me so much of Christine. Her eyes, her nervous smile, the way she swings her hips when she walks. I wonder if she smells the same…

Entry nine, hour nineteen,

Don’t be afraid of the dark.
Don’t be afraid of the dark.
Don’t be afraid of the dark.
Don’t be afraid of the dark.
Don’t be afraid of the dark.
Don’t be afraid of the dark.
Don’t be afraid of the dark.
Don’t be afraid of the dark.

Entry fifteen, hour thirty-six,

I swear I didn't do it. Just…I just couldn't…She would not stop squirming. She kept on telling me no, no, no. She kept screaming…ARRGHHH!! STOP FUCKING SCREAMING!! TURN IT OFF!!! TURN IT OFF!!!

Entry twenty, hour fifty,

And then there was one. I didn't think I could take much more. I kept asking myself how I could make them stop, how I could turn off the voices. Christine just reminds me to keep on doing what I love. So I do, and then they just disappear.
The voices finally go away.
They don’t stay gone for long though. I have to really keep cutting if I want a few hours of silence. Some of them even want the head. I never waste the head. Christine always knows best. She taught me this neat trick. I believe it was a Saturday, and she had just baked apple pie for me and…For me and…No, no, no…What was her name…Her name…WHAT IS HER NAME…Christine, please tell me her name…I’m sorry…I’m sorry for everything…

Entry twenty-one, hour fifty-five,

I've reached the end of my journey; I have found the light at the end of the path. For anyone who finds this journal, take this as a guide. A helpful hand along the path. We are cho-

Stop

"Stop.

If an answer is what you seek.

Stop.

If nullification is what you seek.

Stop.

If secrecy is what you seek.

Stop.

If war is what you seek.

Stop.

If euthanasia is what you seek.

Stop.

If redemption is what you seek.

Stop.

[inexplicable]

Stop.

If finality is what you seek.

Stop.

If obligation is what you seek.

Stop.

If retaliation is what you seek.

Stop.

[inexplicable]

Stop.

If your darkest fears are hunting you now.

Stop.

If omissions are becoming clear now.

Stop.

If unanimous conclusions are made now.

Stop.

If red water stains the floor tiles now.

Stop.

[inexplicable]

Stop.

If sinister thoughts run through your mind now.

Stop.

If incoherent screams burrow into your mind now.

Stop.

If never again will you play the games now.

Stop.

If sacrifice seems better than the suffering now.

Stop."

This is all he wrote. He had hoped the shakiness of his writing hadn't deterred the others. They needed to see this.

With the confidence that he had saved somepony, he trudged onward to continue his tiring journey.

After what seemed like countless hours of walking, he had come across two doors.

Which one did he choose?

It is not an important choice, as I've never stated what was behind each door, yet it is important to you.

If I end this stallion's tale here, you would never know what happened to him beyond the door, or what fate awaited him past the other.

What if they both led to the same place?

You would never know. Most people say that once a story ends, the characters and their lives cease to exist. Their sole purpose was to entertain the masses, and what happened to them after what was written is completely unrelated to the main conflict of the plot.

Once presented with no definite end, no conclusion, the fate of those characters actually mean something.

The pony could have been killed instantly. They could have reached an exit and finally escaped their seemingly never-ending nightmare. Their lives only exist as far as you are willing to let them.

This is what makes the mind so great. The ability to re-write the history of an individual and have it seem so convincing. The possibilities are only limited to your imagination, your mind's ability to produce auditory or visual hallucinations. What is even more fascinating, however, is that the ending to this tale is unique for everyone. No matter how similar two conclusions are, there will always be minor differences, such as the appearance of the pony, or the colors of those doors.

Imagine multiple universes being created at the exact moment a decision is made. In those separate universes there will be separate outcomes. In those universes, a decision will create more universes parallel to that specific universe.

Please take the time to stop.

Stop and read this over again.